Nicaea of Macedon

Who is Nicaea of Macedon?

Nicaea was a Greek Macedonian noblewoman and was a daughter of the powerful regent Antipater by unnamed mother. She was born and raised in Macedonia when her father was governor of Macedonia during the reign of Greek King Alexander the Great.

Nicaea was sent by her father to Asia accompanied by her brother Iollas and a certain Archias to be in 323 BC married to the powerful Perdiccas, at a time when it was still hoped to maintain friendly relations with the regent. Perdiccas, though already entertaining hostile designs married Nicaea. Not so long afterwards by the advice of Eumenes determined to divorce Nicaea, married Cleopatra of Macedon instead, the full-blooded sister of Alexander the Great. This step that Perdiccas took before setting out on his expedition to Ancient Egypt, lead to an immediate rupture between Perdiccas and Antipater.

In c. 321 BC, in part of a formed alliance Antipater married Nicaea to Lysimachus who governed Thrace. In 306 BC Lysimachus became King of ruling Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon. Through her marriage, Nicaea became a Queen consort.

Nicaea bore Lysimachus three children: one son Agathocles; two daughters: Eurydice and Arsinoe I. Through Arsinoe I, Nicaea would have further descendants.